House-door letter-box



(No Model.)

I. KAEMPEN; J1". HOUSE DOOR LETTER BOX.

Patented May 17, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE,

FOLKERT 'KAEMPEN, JR, OF QUINGY,ILLINOIS.

HOUSE-DOOR LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,119, dated May 17, 1892. Application filed Se tember 80, 1891- Serial No. 407,322. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FOLKERT KAEMPEN, J r.,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front view with outer casing partly broken away. Fig.

2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line w x. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

. This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in combined letterboxes and indicators especially designed for attachment to office or house doors; and it consistsinthe novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the outer receptacle or casing, having the back plate A, adapted for securing the box in position. In one end portion B is a circular opening B, through which is inserted into the box a cylindrical receptacle C, the outer end portion of which closes said opening when it is in position. The opposite or inner endof this cylindrical receptacle is open and is adapted to receive mail or other similar matter through a slot 0 in the outer casing. Near its outer end the cylinder is provided with an annular series of cogs d, any one of which is adapted to be engaged by the bolt f of a lock F in the casing. Then the bolt is in engagement with any one of said cogs, it not only prevents the cylinder from being removed from its casing, but itholds it in the position in which it is placed and prevents said cylinder from being turned. The

surface of this cylinder at its central portion .is divided into longitudinal spaces g, on each of which may be stamped or printed an indication denoting the whereabouts or time of return of the occupant of the office or building to which the device is attached and which may be viewed through a sight-slot G in the one of which,

der, may be exposed at a sight-slot of said casin g. A small sight-slot h may also be provided in the end of the box beneath the slot 0, through which the contents of the cylinder may be observed. When it is desired to remove the mail from the cylinder, the lock is turned and the cylinder withdrawn from the casing, a suitable handle being provided for the purpose.

To the lower surface of the bottom of the box is secured a spring-clamp K, which is designed to receive and retain newspapers or other matter too bulky for insertion through the slot 0 and which will be protected by the box from the weather.

Having described this invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the outer receptacle or case having the slot in one end portion and a cylindrical opening at its opposite end, of the hollow cylinder in said case, its outer end closing said opening, said cylinder being provided with a locking device and bearing a series of indications thereon, any by the operation of said cylin casing, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the outer casing having'the lock therein, of the hollow cylinder open at one end, removably held in said casing and provided with a series of cogs or teeth, any oneof Which is adapted to be engaged by the bolt of said lock, substantially as specified.

The combination, with an outer casing having secured to its underside a paper-holding clamp andformed with a cylindrical opening in one end, of a hollow cylinder in said casing, open at its inner end, its outer end closing said cylindric opening, said cylinder having a locking device and its surface bearing a series of longitudinally-arranged indi 'cators, any one of which, by the operation of said cylinder, may be exposed at a sight-slot in the case, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FOLKERT KAE-MPEN, JR. lVitnesses:

B. F. MILLs, W. BERGER. 

